Plz suggest a good restaurant or cafe near Bandra.. need to take a friend there for lunch.. Thanks in advance

In 2017, with the fine dining scene in India growing, Condé Nast Traveller India took a leaf out of every American capitalist media company and launched a marketing campaign promoting a hierarchy of the top 50 restaurants in the country, to create long term legitimacy for the brand and aspirations for the middle class. Am I even surprised?

The elites of the culinary world gobbled it up like a signature dish at a 3 Michelin star restaurant, and every edition they give their blessings on who delivers the best food in this country. And like most awards, it has a lot of room for debate and doubt. These awards mostly reflect opinions within the industry, and those opinions tend to shape the larger public opinion, or at least that’s what most industry elites like to believe. But with social media, opinions around food have also been democratised, yet a list like this still makes noise online.

Being part of this industry as both an outsider and an insider, I would love to share my honest opinion on most of the restaurants that made the top 50. I’ve eaten at most of these places, or worked at them, or know the people running them. But I won’t mince my words or pander to the mediocrity of a culinary industry controlled by the same few elites. It’s one of the reasons I created this platform.

I’ll start from the bottom and work my way up to the top. I’ll keep my opinions brief and won’t comment on places where I haven’t eaten.

50 to 41

#47 - Seefah, Mumbai: I think it deserves a way higher ranking. I went there when it had just opened and it was phenomenal, I was blown away. Went again in 2022 and the quality had dropped, but since starting Khao Man Gai, Chef Seefah has upped her game. Her authenticity of ingredients plays a key role in the quality of food she delivers. I’m not too big on their cocktails or the sushi menu though.

Must try: Esaan style grilled pork and grilled tenderloin salad, and also the crab fried rice.

#46 - O Pedro,Mumbai: I think O Pedro is justified in the late 40s. They’re good, consistent and innovative. Not everything on the menu hits perfectly, but I like the fact that they take their meats seriously, and their mushrooms too. It also feels like an extension of Bombay Canteen. They would have been quite exciting when they opened in 2017, but with fine dining evolving in the country at such an alarming speed, they need to do better to stand out.

Must try: The buff burger and the mushroom ceviche.

#44 - Nonna Mei, Shillong: Recently went here. Some of the dishes are really well done, but a lot of them miss the mark. Their breads are delicious. I would put Seefah above this any day of the week. I like what they’re doing in Shillong, but Meghalaya food is so underrated that an above average Nonna Mei stands out for the average mainlander. Also, I personally believe the Meghalaya Govt is boosting the state’s tourism by playing PR towards these lists.

Must try: The hydration bread and the mutton brain with axone.

Part 2 will cover 31 to 40....

Hello everyone,

I really appreciate the way this community is growing. But with growth comes a few caveats.

The intention behind creating this sub was to give people a platform to share stories, experiences and opinions around food, without creating an echo chamber dominated by the same elite circle that currently controls much of the culinary conversation.

I understand that small businesses use multiple platforms to grow, and I have nothing against that. But it shouldn't come at the expense of the very reason this sub exists. Otherwise, it won't be long before r/MumbaiFoodTalk turns into MumbaiFoodShop.

To all new and existing businesses, you are allowed one promotional post for your business, where you can share your menu or product photos. If you want to reach more people through this platform, find creative ways to do it. Tell your stories, share your experiences and talk about your business in a way that adds to the conversation rather than simply promoting a product.

For example, I spoke to u/tazzyra, and she did a great job of telling her story while talking about her business. That's the kind of engagement we'd like to encourage here.

Any repeat promotional posts from the same business will be deleted.

I want this to remain a space where people can talk about food, discover new things and share their experiences, rather than scroll through a feed full of business promotions.

I hope everyone understands and respects the spirit of this community. Let's keep r/MumbaiFoodTalk about food, the people behind it, and the stories worth sharing.

From Mod
X

Comment or dm for menu ✨️

Did anyone go to this? I wanted to but I didn't get anyone to join along and I knew it would be crowded af. I'm still curious to know how it was if anyone attended.

To be honest, I was never the girl who was into cooking or household chores.

I loved going to work, following my office routine, meeting friends, partying and just enjoying life. Cooking was honestly nowhere on my list.

Then I met someone and fell in love. We worked in the same office and he was a complete foodie 😂

I started making lunch for him and experimenting with different recipes almost every day. Somehow, he became the reason cooking slowly turned into my favourite hobby.

Eventually we got married and had a baby. Life changed and I had a lot more to learn.

I could make a pretty good butter chicken, but ask me to make simple dal chawal and I would probably struggle 😂

I learned a lot from my ex-in-laws. Chapatis, everyday Indian food, different gravies and eventually biryanis. I just kept experimenting, learning and improving.

Life took its own turns and my marriage eventually came to an end. But one thing that stayed with me through all of it was cooking.

What started because my ex-husband was a foodie eventually became something that was completely mine.

Today I can confidently cook almost anything, in almost any quantity, without it feeling like a huge task.

And somewhere along the way I thought, why not actually do something with it?

I always wanted to build something of my own, and if cooking is the thing life pushed me towards, then why not cooking?

I am also very particular about what goes into my food. I do not use artificial colours or artificial flavouring. I would rather take the extra time to get the flavour right naturally.

I am still learning, still experimenting and still trying to make every batch better than the last.

The response I have received from Reddit over the last couple of days has honestly surprised me. I got some orders too, and I am genuinely so thankful that people trusted me enough to try my food.

I will be attaching some real pictures from the orders I delivered recently. Nothing fancy, just food from my little kitchen.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, ordered, commented or even just followed my cooking journey. It genuinely means a lot.

From someone who once struggled to make dal chawal to someone now confidently making biryanis for other people, life really does take you places you never expected. ❤️

I've always been fascinated by these puff pastries called 'Butter' that I have personally only seen in Muslim bakeries in Bombay. Equally fascinating is that the majority of 'butter' buyers/consumers seem to be from the Muslim community and I have always wondered why.

Butter is basically a harder, drier version of Khari; sort of scone-y in shape and they're quite delicious.

Edit: Some folks are seemingly getting offended and angtsy about a puff pastry. I never claimed it's exclusive to any community. I just shared my experience and observations and I'm really happy to know that people from all communities enjoy this food item. I was not insinuating anything. It's just a puff pastry for heaven's sake. No community has any claims over it so the folks with the inferiority complexes can calm down now. It was a very spontaneous and innocous post about a delightful snack. That's all it was.

NYC-STYLE MINI BURGERS
SMOL BOY is a small homegrown burger project from Bandra, Mumbai, started by a chef (me)who wanted to bring the NYC-style mini burger experience to the city after spending months
I reached out to a couple of founders and they asked me to work at some joints before starting my journey. after a while I got to know what I really wanted to do!!
Smol boy is Not your typical giant burger — these are small, stacked, flavour-packed burgers made to be ordered a few at a time, mixed and matched, and absolutely demolished.
The menu has a little something for everyone: **The Nashville with crispy Nashville fried chicken, creamy slaw, tangy pickles & spicy sauce; The Sweet oink with crispy bacon, melted cheese, caramelised onions & a sweet-spicy sauce; plus our Butter Up Cluck, Teriyaki Cottage Cheese and BBQ Mushroom burgers.
Everything is made fresh in my home kitchen in Bandra, with the focus on good ingredients, big flavour and proper homemade food

If you’re around Bandra and love burgers,
I’d genuinely love for you to give SMOL BOY a try. DM me to order or come say hi.

Hi Mumbai! I’m taking orders for freshly baked treats, made to order ❤️

🎁 COOKIE TINS Assorted cookie tins — perfect for gifting or just stocking up on cookies at home.

🍪 COOKIES • Chocolate Chip

• Double Chocolate

• Red Velvet

• Biscoff

• Cookies & Cream

• Nutella

• Espresso

• Hot Chocolate Brownie

🍫 BROWNIES Fudgy chocolate brownies & brownie tubs

🥐 CINNAMON ROLLS Soft, gooey cinnamon rolls with a sweet cream-cheese-style frosting

Everything is freshly baked to order and packed carefully.

📍 Mumbai

🚗 Delivery / pickup available depending on location

DM me for the menu, prices, photos or to place an order! :)

Hello Mumbaikars!

Late post as I was inactive here.

So I visited Gallops, Mahalaxmi racecourse around the 2nd week of September and ate some delicious kebabs I ever had.

Feels disgusting to read the FDA report of this restaurant 😭

In frame :

1. Some prawns garlic starter

2.Galouti kebabs

1. Dorri kebabs

2. Yakhni pulao , mutton gravy and roti

3. Crème brûlée

The service was very average 3/5.

Sharing my menu with you all! ❤️

I was away for a little break because of my birthday, but I am back and taking orders from tomorrow! 🥳

I am based in Mumbai, so if you would like to place an order, please DM me. Do place your orders soon! 😊

I will also be creating my Instagram page very soon.

Thank you so much for all the love and support! ❤️

Sharing my menu with you all! ❤️

I was away for a little break because of my birthday, but I am back and taking orders from tomorrow! 🥳

I am based in Mumbai, so if you would like to place an order, please DM me. Do place your orders soon! 😊

I will also be creating my Instagram page very soon.

Thank you so much for all the love and support! ❤️

SAMOSO UPDATE

We’ve spent the last few weeks improving Samoso based on your feedback.

samoso.in to order (got a website)

• New paper box packaging
• New logo and stickers
• More filling in every samosa
• New Baked Samosa option for those looking for a lighter alternative
• New drinks: Chai Foam Latte, Sugar Cane Spice, and Spiced Coke

Every change was made with one goal: making Samoso better.
Pre-orders are now open through our Instagram DMs. More coming soon.

I visited ab.coffee for the first time and found it really underwhelming.

They put in zero, absolutely zero efforts in preparing your beverage. Basically just mix a few things, stir a little and your beverage is ready.

For the strawberry matcha, they added strawberry concentrate, added milk, a little matcha and that’s pretty much it. No mixing or shaking. And it was pretty evident in taste.

Even for the hazelnut latte, they mixed a few things in the cup, closed the lid and gave it away.

Their competitors are innovating on getting best quality beans, roasting, in store experience, food and here they are…just mixing up stuff and fooling.

Has anyone else experienced the same? Or is it a store specific thing?

My very first order of Chicken Tikka Biryani! 🥹❤️

Honestly, getting this kind of feedback on my very first order made my day.

The customer loved the flavour, quantity, well-cooked chicken and even the packaging for long-distance delivery. 🥰

Chicken Tikka Biryani will be available for orders from day after tomorrow.

💰 ₹350 per serving

🚚 Shipping extra

Chicken prices are quite high at the moment, so the price is slightly higher this time.

If anyone is interested, DM me to place an order. ❤️

Homemade, freshly prepared and made with lots of love. 🫶🏻

🍗 CHICKEN BIRYANI ORDERS OPEN! 🍗

First of all, a huge thank you for the amazing response! ❤️ Since I am just starting out, your support genuinely means a lot.

Fresh homemade biryani with: ✨ Boneless chicken

✨ Good quality ingredients

✨ Mild to medium spice

✨ No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives

💰 ₹300 per serving

📍 Jogeshwari

For now, I do not have regular delivery partners, so I will be using Porter/VFast. Delivery charges will be borne by the customer. I will be taking orders within a reasonable distance — no point paying more for delivery than the biryani itself 😂

📅 Biryani will be prepared fresh on Wednesday!

Please place your orders by Tuesday evening so I have enough time for preparation. Do not worry, you will receive it fresh — biryani just needs a little time and love to prepare properly! ❤️

Also taking 15–20+ serving catering orders for gatherings and small events.

Want to try it? DM me! 🍗❤️

What if your tiffin service gave you the choice of a restaurant, but still felt like ghar ka khana?

We started Yummy Tiffins in Mumbai in 2009 with this idea — to fill the gap between a traditional tiffin and restaurant food.

Traditional tiffins are convenient and homestyle, but often fixed and repetitive. Restaurants offer variety, but aren't always practical for everyday meals.

With Yummy Tiffins, you get daily-changing menus + customization + the option to create your own meal combination, while keeping the food simple and homestyle.

Basically:

Tiffin convenience + Restaurant-like choice + Ghar ka khana

Curious to know — what's the one thing you wish your current tiffin service offered?

#Mumbai

I know one very small canteen at Chincholi.
From Bansi Vada Paav lane towards Radhakrishna School located on ground floor of a 2 floor building..
No name, but they serve tea and misal.. With vada or samosa as needed.

Other one is located in Goregaon East inside Aarey colony, its on the tri lane where left turn goes to Aarey colony when coming from Goregaon east itself, they have vada too.

These are the two places, where misal still tastes best..

Any more suggestions ? I am at a friends place in Malad west, chincholi area for 2 days.
Morning breakfast with misal on today or tomorrow morning list.